Why Downtown Fayetteville

If there was ever a time to look downtown, it is now. Our downtown is the social and cultural heart of our community and new life has been brought to our national landmarks and historic sites in the last two decades through numerous revitalization projects.

Our residents and visitors enjoy a vibrant downtown with offerings for everyone including museums, art galleries and studios, antique shops, gift specialty stores, fine restaurants, cozy coffee shops, lively cultural and entertainment centers and government offices. We are also the home to the International Folk Festival, the Dogwood Festival and 4th Fridays among other events, which bring celebration and national attention to our community.

Need more reasons? Check out our top ten:

1. Festivals and events that fill the streets

The Dogwood Festival, 4th Fridays, International Folk Festival, Fayetteville after Five concerts and other special events make downtown a family-friendly, fun place to be and are an integral part of why Downtown Fayetteville has become the number one attraction in Cumberland County.

2. More than two dozen restaurants and bars with open doors, great menus and a fantastic atmosphere

With cuisine ranging from Italian pasta to delectable tapas to lighter fare salads to mouth watering desserts, this is your place to bring a date or your family or to have a lunch or dinner out with friends. Patio seating make it all the more fun to see and be seen while having a delicious meal!

3. Beautiful historical buildings and streetscape – just look around and know you are in one of the best places

Any history or architecture buff can explore the many exceptional buildings that have been beautifully restored and the examples of Neo-Classical, Gothic Revival and Romanesque Revival styles and more. The Market House alone is one of less than forty National Landmarks in the state of North Carolina.

4. One-of-a-kind shops with unique gift items, clothing, local products, you name it

Personal service and fantastic merchandise make downtown one of the best places to shop in the region. Ranging from clothing to one-of-a-kind gifts to home décor and jewelry, Downtown Fayetteville is a one stop shop for all of your needs and wants.

Talk about wonderful places to have a fabulous picnic, walk or see a concert! Events and activities are commonplace in these parks, but if you just wanted to get healthy and take a nature walk, our trails in Linear Park are for you.

6. A truly cool atmosphere

Our heart of the City has been described as trendy, artsy, charming, picturesque, creative and diverse. Urban living, nightlife, friendly people, museum tours and lunch groups have people from all over having different experiences with the same result – returning over and over again!

7. The Airborne and Special Operations Museum and the new NC Veterans Park

The Airborne and Special Operations Museum, affectionately known as ASOM, is one of our region’s top attractions, and the new North Carolina State Veterans Park, which made its debut on July 4, 2011, sits adjacent to the museum. These two major attractions enjoy thousands of visitors every month.

8. The Field of Honor

The Cool Springs Downtown District hosts the Field of Honor every year and it is truly a sight to behold with sponsored flags lining the field in front of ASOM. Our appreciation for our soldiers, veterans and their families is worth a stand alone in this top ten list to say the least.

9. Award-winning performances and gallery-worthy art

Plays, performances, displays and world-renowned exhibits are featured downtown with so many options to see local shows at the Gilbert Theatre, The Arts Council, the Fayetteville Museum of Art and many more. Our museums, art studios and shops showcase the best that our community has to offer!

10. More shops, restaurants, luxury condos and the like on the horizon

More than ten years has gone by since our community started its plan for downtown revitalization and, in that time, we have made great strides towards building our center city, commercially and residentially. Downtown is growing and has new developments around every corner.

If you haven’t been downtown lately, you need to see what you are missing and how you can be a part of the revitalization taking place.

Cool Spring Downtown District

Our mission is to create and sustain an arts and entertainment district emanating from the central core of the city. We envision the district as a vibrant center of artistic, cultural, civic and commercial activity; a place where people live, work, frequently visit and loyally patronize; a robust generator of economic prosperity for all residents of Fayetteville and Cumberland County.